HYDERABAD, Dec 21: Members of district council have criticized the dues recovery drive launched by the Water and Sanitation Agency on the ground that it is still supplying contaminated water to people of Latifabad and other parts of Hyderabad.

Speaking at Tuesday's session of the council, the members said that they had kept complaining against Wasa and the Hyderabad Development Authority but their officials had remained unmoved and situation the same.

They added that the officials, district government and provincial government had failed to address the water issue notwithstanding the fact so many deaths had been reported during May and June due to consumption of contaminated water.

Sher Mohammad Pirzada rose on a point of order to say that Wasa was again supplying highly contaminated water to Latifabad where people had died in the recent past due to consumption of poisonous water. He opposed an idea of giving performance shields to the HDA and Wasa officials.

Supporting Pirzada's contention, Naseeruddin Humayun, Mohammad Ehsan and Ibrahim Chishti complained that drain water and sewage of Qasimabad taluka was being disposed of by Wasa in River Indus the water of which is supplied to residents of Latifabad for drinking purpose.

They added that they had got disposal of drain water stopped but it was resumed after they reached their homes. They said that quantum of sewage disposal could be gauged from the fact that a 12-inch line disposed it.

They pointed out that the provincial and district governments demonstrated obduracy as countless complaints by them for solution of the problem had fallen on deaf ears.

Dr Ayaz Arain argued that water settlement tanks were lying open and dogs and other animals bathed in them and said that under no law, the Wasa officials were authorised to take away water pumping machines of residents.

Yousuf Qureshi suggested that a consultant of international repute should be hired by the district government for recommending how to improve functioning of the HDA and that army should take over control of the HDA and Wasa.

After Saleem Khan raised the issue of non-acceptance of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Scholarships forms by college administrations due to non-existence of zakat committees, the convener sent a written request to the District Zakat Committee chairman to accept the attestation of union council nazims on the forms. The member pointed out that if the forms were not accepted, the scholarship funds would be returned.